The idea of rent to ownhas been getting a lot of media attention lately as buyers in all geographic areas and economic positions look for ways to have their money work more effectively for them.
The “rent to own” strategy has been very active in the United States for years, and with the newly increased media attention it is starting to become a more viable option for homeownership in Canada ...

There's been a lot of media attention on the Canadian economy and the high volume of consumer debt. With all the hype, it seems like a good time to remind you of some strategies for minimizing debt and making sure the interest that you pay seems appropriate.
Track Your Spending As the famous quote states, "Knowing is half the battle." Tracking your spending for a 30 day period, including every dime ...

Reducing consumer debt has been the name of game - from the Bank of Canada warnings of increasing household debt to the Government of Canada tightening mortgage rules. A recent survey by the Bank of Montreal said that 51% of Canadian homeowners are expecting to carry their mortgage into their retirement years. Wow!
The good news is that you don't have to be a part of the majority. There are plenty ...

Here we go again. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions had proposed new guidelines for mortgage underwriting back in March and final Residential Mortgage Underwriting Practices and Procedures were released to financial institutions today.
Along with these, the Department of Finance announced new mortgage rule changes in an effort to limit the debt Canadians are amassing and ...

With a blink of an eye, five years is over and you're starting to get the notices reminding you that your mortgage is up for renewal. You may have conveniently gotten your renewal papers in the mail from your lender offering you a rate that's lower than what you were paying before (this is because current mortgage rates are at a historical low). It's easy to just sign on the dotted line and mail it ...

Recent studies have shown that self employment is on the rise, making up approximately 15% of the workforce in Canada. However, the trend is making it more difficult for the self-employed and other unique prospective mortgage clients to get a mortgage.
Many major lenders have quietly eliminated their stated income programs or are tightening their lending review process for self-employed individuals. ...

If you go on The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada website, you’ll see a video about Darcy Lee. He’s a 6 year old with Idiopathic lymphedema(with pleural and pancardial infusions), an illness usually resulting from an impaired lymphatic system (part of the immune system that deals with infections). The illness causes swelling in the body, most commonly in the arms and legs. There ...

If you ever watch HGTV Canada, you’ve most likely seen shows like “Til Debt Do Us Part” or Slice channel’s “Princess” – shows that bring in a professional to help people come to their senses and manage their debt. Everywhere you turn these days, you’ll hear people talking about debt. The economic crisis in the United States and Europe has shone a light ...

It’s that time of year again. The market slows to a crawl as Canadians prepare for the holiday season, and we all stop to reflect on the year that has passed. What did 2011 mean to CENTUM and to the mortgage industry? When we think about it, one word comes to mind as the best description: Change. The vast majority of Canadians have been sheltered from the economic turmoil seen around the world ...

Everywhere you turn, people are talking about the economic slowdown and if it’s still a good time to buy that vacation home in the U.S. or someplace else. According to the National Association of Realtors, Canadians were the biggest foreign buyers of American real estate in 2010. That shouldn’t be surprising considering our proximity and the strong Canadian dollar. Real estate companies ...